Air management system

ABSTRACT

This air management system ( 2 ) comprises at least one heat exchanger ( 4, 6 ), at least one fan ( 8, 10 ), and a supporting structure ( 16 ) carrying said at least one exchanger ( 4, 6 ) and fan ( 8, 10 ). The air management system ( 2 ) further comprises a check valve ( 18 ) superimposed to the fan ( 8, 10 ), the check valve ( 18 ) being formed by blades ( 180 ) which are movable between a closed position, in which the fan ( 8, 10 ) is covered, and an open position, in which the fan ( 8, 10 ) is uncovered.

The invention relates to an air management system.

In the field of air management systems for large chillers which are composed of multiple air management system modules, each module is composed of one or more heat exchangers, one or more motor and fan devices and a supporting structure. The heat exchangers are usually positioned in a V-shape with the fan and the motor covering the heat exchangers.

Such a configuration may result in debris and outside particulates entering through the fan holes when the fan is not running. Debris accumulated in the bottom of the air management system may get in contact with the heat exchangers, and the debris in combination with water may negatively impact the overall performance and may cause corrosion and leaks.

Some air management systems are equipped with a grill located above the fan to prevent human intrusion towards the fan. Such grills, however, do not prevent small objects from falling or otherwise entering into the air management systems.

The aim of the invention is to provide a new air management system whose liability and lifetime is improved.

To this end, the invention concerns an air management system comprising at least one heat exchanger, at least one fan, and a supporting structure carrying said at least one exchanger and fan, wherein the air management system further comprises a check valve located above the fan, the check valve being formed by blades which are movable between a closed position, in which the fan is covered, and an open position, in which the fan is uncovered.

Thanks to the invention, debris and other objects are prevented from entering the air management system when the fan is not running, resulting in improved robustness of the air management system.

According to further aspects of the invention which are advantageous but not compulsory, such an air management system may include one or several of the following features:

-   -   The movement of the blades from their closed position to their         open position is triggered by the starting of the fan, and the         movement of the blades from their open position to their closed         position is triggered by the switching off of the fan.     -   In closed position, each blade partially covers an adjacent         blade.     -   The blades are made from sheet metal.     -   The blades are made from a plastic material.     -   The blades form, in closed position, a circular cover         corresponding to the shape of an opening of the structure in         which the fan is positioned.     -   Each blade is formed by an angular sector of disc.     -   The blades are parallel to a central rotation axis of the fan in         their open position.     -   Each blade is movable in rotation around a longitudinal axis         extending in a radial plane with respect to the rotation axis of         the fan.     -   Each blade is movable in rotation around a longitudinal axis         perpendicular to the central rotation axis of the fan.     -   Each blade is movable in rotation around an axis tangent to an         outer circular edge of each blade.     -   The blades form a truncated cone in closed position.     -   In closed configuration, the check valve does not increase the         overall dimension of the air management system by more than 0 to         5 percent of the overall height of the air management system.     -   In their closed position, the blades do not protrude from a top         edge of an opening of the supporting structure in which the fan         is positioned.

The invention will now be explained as an illustrative example with reference to the annexed drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an air management system according to the invention, in a non-operating configuration of fans of the system;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 2, of an operating configuration of the fans;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of an air management system according to a second embodiment of the invention, showing an operating configuration of a fan.

FIGS. 1 and 2 represent an air management system 2 which includes at least one heat exchanger. In this example, the air management system 2 comprises two heat exchangers 4 and 6 arranged in a V shape. The air management system 2 also comprises at least one fan, in the present case two fans 8 and 10 each powered by a non-shown motor. The air management system 2 also comprises a supporting structure 16 which carries the exchangers 4 and 6, the fans 8 and 10 and their dedicated motors. Each fan 8 and 10 is located in a cylindrical opening 160 of the supporting structure 16.

The management system 2 further comprises, for each fan 8 and 10, a check valve 18 located above the fans 8 and 10. Generally, the check valve 18 is positioned along a vertical direction X which also forms a central rotation axis of the fans 8 and 10 and a central axis of the openings 160.

The check valves 18 are formed by multiple blades 180 which are movable between a closed position, shown in FIG. 1, in which the fans 8 and 10 are covered, and an opened position, shown in FIG. 2, in which the fans 8 and 10 are uncovered. In their closed position, the blades 180 form an obstacle preventing debris and other objects from entering the interior of the air management system 2.

The blades 180 form, in closed position, a circular cover corresponding to the shape of the circular openings 160 of the structure 16, in which the fans 8 and 10 are mounted. Each blade 180 may be formed by an angular sector of disc.

The movement of the blades 180 from their closed position to their opened position is triggered by the starting of the fans 8 and 10, and the movement of the blades 180 from their opened position to their closed position is triggered by the switching-off of the fans 8 and 10. The air pressure generated by the air flow of the fans 8 and 10 opens the check valves 18 and maintains the blades 180 in their open position.

In their opened position, the blades 180 may be parallel to the central rotation axis X.

According to a first embodiment shown in FIG. 2, each blade 180 is rotatable around a central longitudinal rotation axis Y180 which extends in a radial plane with respect to the rotation axis X of the fans 8 and 10. In this case, the blades 180 may comprise non-shown inner and outer rotation pins respectively mounted free to rotate in central parts 80 and 100 of the fans 8 and 10, and in the cylindrical wall of the openings 160.

Alternatively, the blades 180 may be rotatable around a longitudinal axis running along one lateral radius.

According to an optional embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the blades 180 may form together a truncated cone in closed position. In other words, in such as case, the central longitudinal rotation axes Y180 form a non-right angle with the central rotation axis X of the fans 8 and 10.

Alternatively, the blades 180 may be perpendicular to the rotation axis X in closed position. In such a case, the blades 180 may have longitudinal rotation axes Y180 perpendicular to the rotation axis X of the fans 8 and 10.

According to an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 3, each blade 180 is movable in rotation around an axis Z180 which is tangent to an outer circular edge 180 a of each blade 180. In such case, the blades 180 may comprise a rotation shaft mounted in the openings 160.

According to a further variant shown in FIG. 3, the check valve 18 comprises a grill 182 formed by diametric rods linking the central part 80 and the opening 160. Such diametric rods may be arranged so as to be overlapped by the lateral edges 184 and 185 of the blades 180 in their closed position in order to provide a rest to the blades 180.

The check valves 18 decrease the risk of corrosion in the air management system 2, especially in the heat exchangers 4 and 6. The check valves 18 also decrease the need for service operation, notably cleaning, of the heat exchangers.

In closed position, the blades 180 do not protrude from a top edge 160 a of the cylindrical openings 160 of the supporting structure 16. More generally, the closed check valve 18 does not increase the overall vertical dimension of the air management system 2 with respect to a state-of-the-art air management system equipped with a grill. For example, the check valve 18 in closed configuration may not increase the overall dimension of the air management system 2 by more than 0 to 5 percent of the overall height H of the air management system 2. This allows easy transportation of the air management systems from a manufacturing place to an installation place, for example in truck trailers.

According to some embodiments, the check valves 18 also improve the airflow in the case the air management system 2 is integrated in a multiple chiller installation. In their open position, the blades 180 provide a guide for the air flow of the fans 8 and 10. This permits to straighten the airflow and reduce air recirculation between adjacent fans or adjacent air managements systems or chillers.

According to some embodiments, the noise level of the air management system 2 is limited, as in their open position, the blades 180 have a smaller projected surface on the section of the fan 8 or 10 than a standard grill. The noise level produced by airflow passing through the check valve 18 is therefore lower as the noise level of airflow passing through a grill.

According to some embodiments, air re-circulation is also limited when one of the fans 8 and 10 fails.

Advantageously, each blade 180 may partially cover an adjacent blade 180. In other words, a first blade 180 may overlap an angular sector covering a portion of another blade 180 located directly next to the first blade 180 in the circumferential direction.

The blades 180 may be made from sheet metal.

Alternatively, the blades 180 may be made from a plastic material.

According to non-shown optional embodiments, the air management system 2 may comprise only one heat exchanger, and/or only one motor/fan device. Alternatively, the air management may comprise any number of heat exchangers and any number of motor/fan device, and may also be formed by several air management modules each comprising heat exchangers and motor/fan devices. The heat exchangers may also be arranged in a different shape.

The features of the above-described embodiments and variants can be combined to form new embodiments of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. Air management system (2) comprising at least one heat exchanger (4, 6), at least one fan (8, 10), and a supporting structure (16) carrying said at least one exchanger (4, 6) and fan (8, 10), wherein the air management system (2) further comprises a check valve (18) located above the fan (8, 10), the check valve (18) being formed by blades (180) which are movable between a closed position, in which the fan (8, 10) is covered (2), and an open position, in which the fan (8, 10) is uncovered.
 2. Air management system according to claim 1, wherein the movement of the blades (180) from their closed position to their open position is triggered by the starting of the fan (8, 10), and the movement of the blades (180) from their open position to their closed position is triggered by the switching off of the fan (8, 10).
 3. Air management system according to claim 1, wherein in closed position, each blade (180) partially covers an adjacent blade.
 4. Air management system according to claim 1, wherein the blades (180) are made from sheet metal.
 5. Air management system according to claim 1, wherein the blades (180) are made from a plastic material.
 6. Air management system according to claim 1, wherein the blades (180) form, in closed position, a circular cover corresponding to the shape of an opening (160) of the supporting structure (16) in which the fan (8, 10) is positioned.
 7. Air management system according to claim 1, wherein each blade (180) is formed by an angular sector of disc.
 8. Air management system according to claim 1, wherein the blades (180) are parallel to a central rotation axis (X) of the fan (8, 10) in their open position.
 9. Air management system according to claim 1, wherein each blade (180) is movable in rotation around a longitudinal axis (Y180) extending in a radial plane with respect to a central rotation axis (X) of the fan (8, 10).
 10. Air management system according to claim 9, wherein each blade (180) is movable in rotation around a longitudinal axis (Y180) perpendicular to the central rotation axis (X) of the fan (8, 10).
 11. Air management system according to claim 1, wherein each blade (180) is movable in rotation around an axis (Z180) tangent to an outer circular edge (180 a) of each blade (180).
 12. Air management system according to claim 1, wherein the blades (180) form a truncated cone in closed position.
 13. Air management system according to claim 1, wherein in closed configuration, the check valve (18) does not increase the overall dimension of the air management system (2) by more than 0 to 5 percent of the overall height (H) of the air management system (2).
 14. Air management system according to claim 13, wherein in their closed position, the blades (180) do not protrude from a top edge (160 a) of an opening (160) of the supporting structure (16) in which the fan (8, 10) is positioned. 